City Kickboxing coach Eugene Bareman expressed his surprise at Sean Strickland’s upset victory over Israel Adesanya at UFC 293, just like the rest of the MMA world. Bareman, who took questions from the media after UFC 293 in place of Adesanya, acknowledged that while Strickland is a great fighter, he had expected Adesanya to perform better.
Alternate Universe and Training Camp
Bareman stated, “There was an alternate kind of universe where Israel performs his poorest or poorly where Sean could win, and I’m sitting in that universe right now. Training camp was great. I’m not going to make any excuses in regard to that.” He went on to say that leading up to the fight, everything was perfect, including sparring partners and technical aspects. However, Adesanya had an off night and there was a lack of connection in the corner.
Rematch Possibility
Despite the outcome, Bareman is confident that a few minor adjustments could change the outcome in favor of Adesanya. He even asked UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard if they could have a rematch the following weekend. Although it is unclear when a potential rematch might take place, UFC president Dana White has shown support for the idea.
Preparing for a rematch comes with its own set of challenges, as Bareman noted, “In my career, I’ve been involved in a few rematch camps and they’re very, very difficult.” Finding ways to improve when you’ve already given your best can seem like an impossible task, but Bareman believes that they will find something to add to the camp and win the rematch.
Overall, Bareman remains confident in Adesanya’s ability to rebound and believes that with time and minor adjustments, they can change the outcome of a potential rematch against Strickland. The MMA world will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting any further developments regarding this highly anticipated rematch.